For two long months I have been working on this problem. I'm hoping somebody can tell me what I'm doing wrong. All I want to do is use Remote Desktop from one WinXP Pro to another. The two computers (one at work and one at home) are not on the same network. I have done the following to the best of my knowledge: 1) I have properly enabled port 3389 on both machines firewalls and disabled any 3rd party programs which might intervene (other firewalls...norton net security). 2) I have forwarded the same port (3389) on both machines via linksys routers. 3) Both have static IP addresses. Using canyouseeme.org I have determined the external (static) IP address of both machines. I have confirmed this IP on whatismyip.com 4) I have checked to see if port 3389 is listening via netstat and both are locally listening. 5) I am able to use RDC on both local networks (using other computers on the same networks) but not able to connect outside of the networks. 6) Using the Port Query tool and canyouseeme.org I have determined that both machines are not listening externally (only internally somehow). Canyouseemme says 3389 connection is refused. 7) I have confirmed that one of the machines (office computer) has the routing and remote connection service enabled and started (however my home computer is giving me an error 127 on this service which I can't figure out but I should still be able to get the office one listening). 8) I have confirmed that no ports are blocked with both ISPs (in fact I switched my personal ISP just so I could use this). If this is a modem issue then why are both modems showing the same problems? Is there a fix for this? Is this common? Arg!!! I hope I posted this in the right spot. Sorry if I didn't. I am new to networking and most of what I have done has been through trial and error or information I've found on the net. Both machines are incapable of exposing port 3389 (or most others seemingly) externally though internally there is no problem. I am pulling my hair out on this one. Please send help (and possibly cookies) if you have any idea what I might be up against since every normal troubleshooting issue seems to have failed and both machines are having the same issue. When attempting the use Remote Desktop both ways I get the "Client could not connect" error which makes sense if neither one is listening. I am officially loosing sleep at this point. HELP!!!

Hi, have you checked the routers log, for discarding on port 3389 ? I guess, you have to create a firewall rule at the router, to allow the following: source dest source dest port port address address ----------------- 1024-65535 3389 any ip of workst. Paul

make sure windows xp built in firewall is open to port 3389. and make sure your router is fowarding the correct port to the correct internal ip address.